No 'Waist' Here, Says Council

Oonagh Lavery, Danielle Hargan and Teresa McLaughlin are shown getting ready for their part in Belfast City Council's successful 'Stitch & Style' event in the Black Box. The event was free and gave budding fashionistas an opportunity to 'Gok Wan' their wardrobe using just a needle and thread, and breathe some new life into vintage garments, with the help of some experts. It was organised as part of the council's annual Waste Week which ends today. The event was such a success, said a spokeswoman, that plans are being made to organise another in the near future. See: Waste Week Belfast

Prostitutes Paid £20 Weekly

Chinese women forced into prostitution after answering advertisements for nannies in Belfast were paid £20 a week, the High Court heard this week. Prosecutors revealed details of the suspected vice ring as a former PSNI officer accused of helping to run the racket and transport victims was refused bail. Simon Dempsey (39), who quit the force in 2004 and co-accused Chen Rong (32), from Crestwood Avenue, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, were both charged with human trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation and controlling prostitution following recent raids in Belfast and Londonderry.

Two Days For MLA Questions

Stormont question time for Ministers in the Assembly will be spread over two days in future. MLAs have just voted to quiz members of the Executive on Tuesday as well as Monday. The amount of time devoted, an hour and a half, will remain the same. Procedures Committee Chairman Maurice Morrow said the move announced on Tuesday made sense. Meanwhile, moves to sell off part of Royal Mail have been unanimously rejected by the Northern Ireland Assembly. All parties backed a motion objecting to Business Secretary Lord Mandelson's plan for a joint venture between a foreign private operator and the postal service.

Hunter Hit Over Expenses

An ex Conservative MP who became a member of the DUP is among the latest politicians to be caught up in the ongoing Westminster expenses scandal. Andrew Hunter, who stood down at the last general election, apparently claimed second home allowances for a property not in his constituency. The house in Newbury, Berkshire, was 18 miles from his constituency of Basingstoke and an hour and a half drive from Westminster. A Conservative MP since 1983, Mr Hunter had close links with unionism. He stood for the DUP in the 2003 Assembly elections in the Lagan Valley constituency but failed to get elected. He attended the DUP's 2009 party conference.

Vocational System Overhauled

The reformed vocational qualifications system will be more flexible and easier to understand for both employers and learners. The NI Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey - who was speaking to stakeholders at a major vocational qualification reform conference in Belfast this week - said the reform will provide learners with qualifications that are more valuable and relevant in today's workplace. The conference was part of the UK-wide vocational qualifications (VQs) reform programme, which aims to change the ways in which VQs are developed and delivered. Employers will be able to specify the skills that they need, and their sector skills councils will develop and approve VQs in partnership with recognised awarding bodies.

Welcome For Adapted Dementia Home

A new £1.3m housing scheme in Lisburn, specially designed for people suffering from dementia, has been opened. Catering for those suffering from moderate to severe dementia, it offers facilities which are at the 'cutting edge' of dementia care. The Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie welcomed the home as "much needed boost" for people suffering from dementia. The building, at St Paul's Court on the Ballinderry Road, was designed in consultation with the Dementia Services Development Centre based at the University of Stirling.

Belfast Road Works Announced

Around £6.8m is to be invested in Belfast's roads this year, the NI Transport Minister has said. Conor Murphy said major improvements on the M2 are still to be completed, with a widening programme on the A12 Westlink also planned. "The major improvement works on the M2 which, included the replacement of three bridges, has provided three traffic lanes in each direction between the Sandyknowes and Greencastle junctions," said the Minister. Mr Murphy welcomed the road maintenance schemes progressed in the Belfast area last year.

(BMcC/JM)